Sunday, July 28, 2013

Are We a Liability to Ourselves?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the structure of my business.   It has been growing slowly as I venture out to more places.   Keeping up with it and my liabilities have me worried. 
Besides my on-line presence I have some of my items on consignment at two different galleries.  One of the Galleries is doing very well.  It is located in a vacation area.  Skiing in winter and camping in summer.   The Gallery owner contacted me recently with a client of hers that needed a basket wrap done for an enhydro crystal that contains prehistoric droplets of water and wanted to know if I could do it.   Of course I said yes.   So we made arrangements to meet.   When we met she had several different projects she wanted me to do.   Repair bails, restring beads and the basket for the crystal.   When seeing the crystal I knew it was going to be a big challenge because the crystal had fractures, and she had taken it to a Jeweler and he broke part of it and refused to finish.  He had told her he doesn’t normally do wire wrapping and she would need someone that did.   Because of my relationship with the Gallery owner I took it on, and we made arrangement to meet again 3 weeks later with the work completed.  
I did complete the job but was very worried the whole time about breaking it.   It turned out pretty good and she was totally happy with the wrap.  But the liability I undertook was tremendous.   The enhydro crystals are a bit pricey but this one meant a lot to her and I don’t want to think about what would of happened if I had cracked it more.   I have been looking into LLC’s etc., and I have come across this web site   http://www.hellocraft.com/2011/01/ask-a-lawyer-legal-structures-for-craft-businesses/   it gives tons of information for crafters and small business owners.  It is not meant to be legal advice but information for you.   You can also go to http://www.sba.gov/ for more information.


 Even if you don’t take big risks I would recommend learning more about your liabilities.   Even the simplest transaction can go bad.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Are You A Verbal Person?

I have come to the conclusion, well long ago I came to the conclusion that I am not a verbal person.   I do not like to talk on the phone and I would much rather sit quietly and work than gab with a bunch of friends or family.   When my daughters call me I will chat for 10 minutes or so but do not like long conversations, just long enough to find out what they are doing and if they all are well.    They can vouch for me that I will tell them my ear is getting hot and get off the phone.   I love hearing from them, in fact if I do not hear from them on a regular basis I get worried.   The reason I am telling you this is because I believe that is why I do not like to blog.  I am not verbal and I have to force myself to write about myself.  I tie this into not being verbal.

That being said I do realize that blogging is a necessary part of having a presence on the web.  So from this day forward I have made a commitment to myself to do a new blog at least once a week!  I think that the only way I will do things that I really would rather not do is make a commitment and do it!   One thing I know is that I do honor my commitments.

I have been working on a new project!  I have been using 14/20 gold filled wire and making chains to go along with wrapping cabs in the gold filled wire!